Florence McDowell Shelby Cantrill and Mary Brinker Bryan papers

Abstract

Florence McDowell Shelby Cantrill was a prominent Kentucky politician, serving as a delegate to Kentucky's Democratic Convention in 1920, a state legislator, and Lexington City Commissioner. Her aunt, Mary Brinker Bryan, was the first woman member of a Lexington newspaper, working for 25 years at the
Herald before switching to the
Leader. Their papers consist of correspondence, diaries, scrapbooks, genealogical material, writings, and photographs, which document their careers and family life.

Collection Overview

Biography / History

Florence McDowell Shelby Cantrill (1888-1981), a prominant female politician, was the daughter of Wallace and Margaret (Bryan) Shelby and a descendant of many prominant Kentucky families, including the Bryans, Boones, Shelbys, and McDowells. On her mother's side, Mary Boone, the sister of Daniel Boone, married William Bryan the founder of Bryan Station. Their son Daniel Bryan built Waveland, an antebellum historic mansion. and Mary Brinker Bryan were descendants of the Boones and the Bryans. Isaac Shelby, Kentucky's first governor, and Dr. Ephraim McDowell, pioneer surgeon, were Florence Cantrill's great-great-grandfathers on her father's side.

Florence Cantrill was elected as a delegate to Kentucky's Democratic Convention in 1920. The convention was a landmark meeting as the first time women participated in the election process. In 1933 Cantrill won a seat in the Kentucky Legislature, becoming the first woman elected to represent Fayette county. As a legislator, she encouraged Kentucky's representatives to ratify the Child Labor Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In order to reinforce backing for the bill, Cantrill invited Frances Perkins, President Roosevelt's Secretary of Labor, to speak to the Kentucky Legislature. Despite her speech, the bill died in committee. Additionally, starting in 1935, Cantrill served two terms as the first woman Lexington City Commissioner, served as acting mayor, and as Fayette County's chair directing the activities of the women of the Democratic Party. In 1938, Alben Barkley personally requested Florence Cantrill to head the Woman's Division of the Democratic party in Kentucky working on his reelection campaign. Her unstinting efforts were instrumental in Senator Barkley's return to Washington, D.C.

Florence Cantrill was also an active clubwoman, belonging to the Woman's Club of Central Kentucky and The Monday Club. She served as the President of the Woman's Club and chaired the current events and citizenship departments for many years. Her interest in church affairs led her to write an epic poem as part of the golden anniversary celebration, 1896-1946, of the Woman's Auxiliary in the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington. Ten years later, she wrote an article to mark its sixtieth year. In addition, for several years she served on the Vestry of Christ Church.

Margaret Shelby Cantrill Worsham, only daughter of Florence and Cecil Cantrill, was the assistant Director of the University of Kentucky Student Center and associated with the Dean of Students Office for twenty years before her retirement in 1979. In 1982, the theater in the Student Center addition was named the Worsham Theater to honor Margaret Worsham's contributions to the University of Kentucky.

Mary
Mamie Brinker Bryan (1863-1933), Florence Cantrill's aunt, lived with the Cantrills for many years until her death in 1933. In 1894, Mary Bryan became the first woman member of a Lexington newspaper when she joined the staff of the Republican newspaper, the
Lexington Leader, at the invitation of Samuel Roberts, the editor. In September 1919, after working as the society editor for 25 years, she shifted her allegiance to the
Lexington Herald, the Democratic paper published by Desha Breckinridge.

Scope and Content

The Florence McDowell Shelby Cantrill and Mary Brinker Bryan papers consist of correspondence, diaries, scrapbooks, genealogical material, writings, and photographs, which document the careers and family life of Florence Cantrill and her aunt Mary Brinker Bryan. The collection reflects Florence Cantrill's career as a Democratic politician in Kentucky as well as her social and familial commitments. The papers include family and political correspondence as well as articles and other compositions written by Florence Cantrill. Additionally, they contain a large amount of material from her involvement with the United States Democratic Party and the Kentucky Democratic Party. Mary
Mamie Brinker Bryan's papers include family correspondence and letters from former newspaper colleagues who wrote to their
Miss Mary with affection and admiration. In addition, there is a July 4, 1921 speech which she delivered at a Daughters of the American Revolution picnic at Bryan Station. Additionally, the papers contain a large collection of genealogical materials, including genealogical charts, newspaper clippings, and family photographs.

Restrictions on Access and Use

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access note
Collection is open to researchers by appointment. Access to
Among My Souvenirs is restricted, requiring donor permission.

Use Restrictions

The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections. Several photographs are stamped with use restrictions and credit line requests.

Contents of the Collection

Diaries, scrapbooks, and Hamilton College Bulletin, 1876-1961

The Diaries, scrapbooks, and Hamilton College Bulletin series contains diaries, scrapbooks, memory books, and a copy of the Hamilton College Bulletin listing of graduates from 1870 to 1927. The diaries include Florence Cantrill's diaries; her journals from her European trips; and her mother, Margaret Bryan's, diary written while a student at Hocker College. Additionally the series consists of Florence Cantrill's aunt, Willie I. Shelby's, scrapbook; Florence Cantrill's scrapbooks and memory books; and her daughter's scrapbook.

Maltha (Mallie) Bryan diary. Written while she was a student at Hocker (later Hamilton) College, Lexington, Ky., 1876 September 25 - 1877 April 7

Florence McDowell Shelby diary. Diary was begun when she was nine years old., 1897 September 20 - 1898 February 28

Florence McDowell Shelby scrapbook, 1894-1903

Florence McDowell Shelby Cantrill My Trip Abroad. Mrs. Cantrill and Willie I. Shelby left Montreal on May 24 as passengers on the ship Ascania arriving in London June 2. They toured various points of interest in England, Scotland, and Wales returning to Quebec July 3 onboard the ship Carinthia., [1956] May 24 - July 3

Florence McDowell Shelby Cantrill diary. Florence Cantrill and her brother Joe and sister-in-law Miriam sailed from New York City onboard the ship Christoforo Colombo on March 3, 1959 and spent several weeks touring Italy and France until Mrs. Cantrill returned by airplane to the United States., 1959 March 3 - 1959 April 29

Margaret Shelby Cantrill Worsham scrapbook, 1932-1942

Hamilton College Bulletin includes a list of graduates from 1870 to 1927, 1928 May

Mary Brinker Bryan papers, 1897-1933

Mary Brinker Bryan's papers primarily consist of family correspondence and letters from her former newspaper colleagues. Additionally, the papers include a speech given at a DAR picnic, pledges to Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky, newspaper clippings, obituaries, and a Transylvania Student Body petition to the Board of Curators requesting Dr. A. D. Hammon's resignation.

Newspaper clippings, 1903-1930

Florence McDowell Shelby Cantrill papers, 1893-1979

The Florence McDowell Shelby papers consist of personal and political correspondence, compositions, articles, and political material from her campaigns and campaigns she helped run. Her personal correspondence includes many of her own letters plus letters from her husband, Cecil, when she and their sons, Shelby and Cecil, were at Bay View, Michigan, in the summer of 1913. Letters from their children, Cecil and Margaret, various family members and friends are also present. Her political papers include materials from her campaign for the Kentucky State Legislature in 1933, papers associated with the inaugural activities of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, Democratic party papers, newspaper clippings, and material dealing with the reelection campaign of Alben Barkley.

Alben Barkley's reelection to the U.S. Senate campaign, 1937-1938

, 1937 March 7 - 1938 May 31

, 1938 June

, 1938 June 1 - August 31

, undated

Family photographs, 1878-1981

The Family photographs series consists of family photographs and albums dating from the 1870s to the 1980s the photographs span large period of family history and include several photographs from Florence Cantrill's political career. Notable photographs include photograph of Elliott or Budgie on a camel in front on the Sphinx in Egypt; photograph of Florence Cantrill greeting Lady Bird Johnson; photograph of Florence Cantrill with Franklin D. Roosevelt; photographs of Florence Cantrill in Venice and Milan; photographs of flooded Lexington streets; and Joseph Shelby and Miriam Rhorer's wedding album.

Willie I. Shelby portrait, undated

Group of three picture: people on porch; people with horse; horse and buggy, undated

Genealogical material, 1891-1985

The Genealogical material series contains genealogical information, memoirs, articles, newspaper clippings, and genealogical charts relating to Florence Cantrill's family history. Families represented in the series include the Boones, Bryans, Shelbys, McDowells, Cantrills, and Worshams.

Worsham family genealogical chart, undated

Assorted genealogical material, undated

General genealogical newspaper clippings, 1897-1933

Researchers are required to have an SCRC Researcher Account in order to request or order digital copies of materials. Research Account set-up and use instructions can be found at: http://libguides.uky.edu/SCRCaccount

If you are visiting the Breckinridge Research Room, please request materials at least 48 business hours in advance of your arrival.

Researchers are required to have an SCRC Researcher Account in order to request or order digital copies of materials. Research Account set-up and use instructions can be found at: http://libguides.uky.edu/SCRCaccount

If you are visiting the Breckinridge Research Room, please request materials at least 48 business hours in advance of your arrival.